Weekly Report - 10 January 2019 (WR-19-01)

The Revolution becomes a sexagenarian

The Cuban Revolution turned 60 on 1 January. Raúl Castro marked its diamond anniversary in a ceremony in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba by the tomb of his brother Fidel. “It has not grown old but remains young,” Castro said, praising the efforts of President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who succeeded him last April, to transfer responsibilities to the younger generation. Castro claimed this would be helped by a new constitution, upon which Cubans will vote in a referendum on 24 February, but he warned the country to “prepare for the worst scenario” with the US resuming “a policy of confrontation”.